On Thursday, TikTok launched an exciting new feature that strengthens its connection to the streaming services fueling the music charts. With “Share to TikTok,” fans on Apple Music and Spotify can now seamlessly share their favorite tracks directly to TikTok, making it easier than ever to showcase music across platforms. This update enables users to post songs, albums, playlists, and more from their preferred streaming apps to their TikTok Stories, For You feed, and even in DMs.
The new integration highlights TikTok’s powerful role in music discovery, allowing fans to effortlessly move between TikTok and their favorite streaming services. Not only does this help music lovers engage with content they enjoy, but it also gives artists and tracks an amplified presence on TikTok, where trending music often translates to viral success and even drives chart performance.
With the “Share to TikTok” button, users can select a track on Spotify or Apple Music and directly share it to TikTok’s feed or Stories, complete with options to showcase content through the popular green screen feature or TikTok’s Photo Mode. On Spotify, users can share music, podcasts, or audiobooks by simply tapping the “Share” button or using the share icon on the “Now Playing” screen. Apple Music users, meanwhile, can access the feature through the Share Sheet, where options like “Post a Video” or “Post a Photo” make it easy to personalize their TikTok content.
How TikTok Revolutionized Music Discovery
Over the years, TikTok has evolved into a critical platform for music discovery, reshaping how audiences find and connect with new music. Its global popularity has boosted its influence on the music industry, as trending TikTok songs often make it onto Billboard 100 charts or Spotify’s Viral 50 playlist. According to Business Insider, an impressive 67% of TikTok users search for songs they hear on the platform. With such a massive reach, TikTok has forged partnerships with artists, labels, and marketers to keep the app brimming with new releases.
Given this influence, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, briefly explored launching a standalone streaming app, TikTok Music, to compete directly with platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. However, after testing the app in select markets, ByteDance opted to discontinue its global push in September, choosing instead to focus on music discovery through the TikTok app itself. The “Add to Music App” feature, launched earlier, allowed TikTok users to save songs they discovered on the app to their preferred music services, bridging TikTok and the broader music ecosystem.
A Full-Circle Experience for Fans and Artists
The “Share to TikTok” feature marks a new chapter in TikTok’s commitment to supporting music discovery and artist promotion in partnership with major streaming services. Ole Obermann, TikTok’s Global Head of Music Business Development, shared that the “Add to Music App” feature has already resulted in hundreds of millions of track saves and billions of streams across partner platforms. “‘Share to TikTok’ completes the loop, making it easier than ever for artists to reach the TikTok community and for users to share the music that resonates with them,” Obermann said.
For streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, this feature signals a positive shift. Rather than competing directly for music listeners, TikTok is now actively driving traffic back to streaming services, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. Lindsey Kelt Zikry, TikTok’s Global Product Partnerships Lead, highlighted that this integration brings new opportunities for creative expression for both users and creators. “Our ‘Share to TikTok’ integration opens up endless possibilities for artists, authors, and podcasters to connect with audiences on TikTok,” Zikry noted.
Spotify’s Expanding Social Reach
Not to be outdone, Spotify has been broadening its social integrations as well. The streaming giant recently announced a partnership with Meta, making it possible to share songs to Spotify from Instagram. In addition to Meta apps, Spotify has ongoing integrations with social platforms like Snapchat and X (formerly Twitter), giving users an ever-growing number of ways to share music and connect with others through music.
An Expanding World of Music Discovery and Social Connection
The new “Share to TikTok” feature is another example of TikTok’s evolving relationship with the music industry, delivering on its mission to drive music discovery while enriching user engagement. As more fans use the platform to find and share their favorite sounds, the boundaries between social media and streaming services continue to blur, paving the way for a more connected world of music and creativity.
For music lovers, creators, and streaming platforms alike, TikTok’s latest move promises to make discovering, sharing, and celebrating music easier than ever before.
